10 Sure Signs You're in the Right Job

While Peter Economy has spent the better part of two decades of his life slugging it out mano a mano in the management trenches, he is also the best-selling author of Managing for Dummies, The Management Bible, Leading Through Uncertainty, and more than 75 other books, with total sales in excess of two million copies. He has also served as associate editor for Leader to Leader for more than 10 years, where he has worked on projects with the likes of Jim Collins, Frances Hesselbein, Marshall Goldsmith, and many other top management and leadership thinkers. Sign up here to always stay up to date with Peter's latest Inc.com columns, and visit him anytime at petereconomy.com.

We all want a rewarding job or career. After all, they say that if you love what you do you never work a day in your life. But it can be difficult to know whether you're really where you want to be. If these 10 signs hit home with you, chances are good you are, in fact, in the right place. But if you can't answer in the affirmative very often, you might want to start looking for a new opportunity--right now.

1. You wake up energized each morning

Are you typically excited and enthused to get up in the morning, get your day started, and head to the office? Believe it or not, many people are. It's simple, really. When you love what you do the excitement comes naturally--even at ungodly hours.

2. You look forward to tackling your to-do list each day

Whatever the day brings, you're excited and ready to take it on. Tackling your to-do list and being able to fill it with a new collection of to-dos for the next day exhilarates you. (Okay, that’s an exaggeration, but you get what I mean.) People who love their jobs accept and embrace the day-to-day routine of what they do, knowing that the little things have to be done first to get to the big things.

3. You exude happiness

Some people walk into the office and have a happy air about them, an emotion that tends to rub off on the people around them. These happy people are extremely important to keep in a business, as they have the ability to change the entire environment of an office space in seconds. Are you one of them?

4. The day seems to fly by

Instead of being one of those people who is constantly watching the clock, you instead feel that there aren't enough hours in your workday--in the good sense. You wish you had more time to accomplish tomorrow's tasks and get even farther ahead of the game.

5. You enjoy time spent in the office

Your family or friends may not understand it, but you actually like being at work. When you're in your element doing what you love, you feel at your best.

6. You are eager to take on new projects

You aren't racing the clock or trying to get ahead of others, you simply look forward to the next big thing you can tackle, and you work hard on your current projects so you can get to the next ones.

7. You are optimistic

If a deadline is coming fast and your team seems to be lagging, you're the person cheering everyone on and motivating them to get things done. When other people get overwhelmed you are the one that is making the light at the end of the tunnel seem a lot closer than it appears.

8. You see the company's goals as your own personal goals

You dream about it. You envision it on your drive home. You know that if you hit that goal at work you will feel good, and in doing so you'll be well on the way to achieving your personal goals. People who internalize their work goals go far in life, and especially far in their line of work.

9. You are helpful and genuine to your coworkers

While most may regard their coworkers in a competitive light, you truly want to help everyone you can. Coworkers know that they can come to you for help or questions and that you will always make an honest attempt to assist. You are kind and your genuine nature shines through, which makes people want to work with you.

10. Your positivity flows over to your personal life

People who love their jobs are more likely to have fulfilling personal lives outside of work. Whether they're traveling, in a sports league, or lounging at home, their positivity inspires others and magnetically attracts other people toward them.

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